Cinema VinesYami Gautam has been honored with the National Film Award for Best Actress for her work in the 2024 film Article 370. The 72nd National Film Awards were announced on Saturday, with the film winning Best Feature Film and Gautam receiving the top acting prize.
After the announcement, the actress took to her X account to express heartfelt gratitude to the jury, her family, her fans and the entire team that brought the movie to life. She said, “Every journey has a moment that reminds you why you never gave up. Today is that moment for me. Receiving the National Award for Article 370 is an honour I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
Gautam reflected on the fourteen‑year journey that led to this recognition, noting how she has always stayed true to her craft, worked with honesty and let her performances speak for themselves. She added, “This honour feels like the culmination of a journey filled with hope, perseverance, resilience and an unwavering love for cinema. It is a dream I have carried in my heart for years and today, I receive it with immense gratitude and humility.”
She described Article 370 as more than just a film: “It was a story I deeply believed in. The fact that it was our home production makes this recognition even more emotional and personal. Every challenge, every conversation and every day on set was driven by one shared purpose, to tell this story with honesty and conviction.”
In her note, Gautam thanked the jury, the director, the cast and crew, and the audience for embracing the film. She wrote, “My heartfelt gratitude to the Honourable Jury for this incredible recognition, to our visionary director, our phenomenal cast and crew and to every member of the audience who embraced Article 370 with such love and belief.” She also thanked her family and well‑wishers for their faith and support, stating, “Your faith gave me the strength to keep moving forward, even when the destination seemed far away.”
Concluding her message, the actress emphasized that the award marks the beginning of a greater responsibility: “This award is not the end of a dream, it is the beginning of a greater responsibility. To keep growing, to keep taking risks and to keep telling stories that matter. Dreams do come true but only when passion refuses to give up. This one's for every dreamer who is still waiting for their moment. Never stop believing.”
The film itself is directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale and co‑written by Jambhale, Aditya Dhar, Monal Thaakar and Arjun Dhawan. It was produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Aditya Dhar and Lokesh Dhar, and stars Yami Gautam, Priyamani, Skand Thakur, Ashwini Kaul, Vaibhav Tatwawadi, Arun Govil and Kiran Karmarkar. Article 370 tells the story of the 2019 revocation of the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.
